SURREY could take the field as the new county champions at Southampton next Wednesday.

They failed to finish off Warwickshire at Edgbaston seven days ago but could win the title this weekend - for the third time in four years - without even playing.

The midlanders must either win their current Frizzell County Championship first division match against Lancashire at Old Trafford, which started on Wednesday, or drop no more than one point in securing a draw to keep the issue alive.

Kent began their clash with Somerset at Taunton still mathematically capable of winning the title but in practice their hopes were extinct.

It may be that Surrey need just a handful of points against relegation-threatened Hampshire at the Rose Bowl. They have wrapped it up before in Southampton, at the old county ground in Northlands Road back in 1971.

Manager Keith Medlycott said: "We'd have liked to have got it all done and dusted last week but Nick Knight batted superbly on a good pitch.

"If it happens that we win it without playing at the time then so be it. You can't be choosy with these things.

Whatever occurs, it's a reward for the team which has played consistently good cricket through the season and we would be good value for it."

Batting on one leg because of a hip problem, he made 133 in 302 deliveries.

Warwickshire had started their second innings 199 behind and were still 55 adrift at the start of the final day.

But despite losing Jim Troughton (63) and Shaun Pollock (3) just after the deficit had been cleared, he fought on against an attack blunted by a dead pitch.

Knight survived a sharp chance to Adam Hollioake at leg-slip off Ian Salisbury on 83 but the match was effectively over by then.

Surrey may have Graham Thorpe back in their ranks over the next few days.

The 33-year-old England left-hander, out of cricket for more than a month following domestic troubles, appeared to reverse a previous decision not to play again this season by announcing, last weekend, his availability for the rest of the season.

Medlycott admitted: "It was a surprise to hear that Graham wanted to play again but a pleasant one. Obviously he is a bit rusty after his time away from the game but we have been working with the bowling machine at the Surrey Cricket Centre.

"It could give us a selection headache but it's the right sort to have. I'm happy being in this position rather than one of scraping around for good players to pick."

Victory over Essex at Chelmsford on Sunday would make Surrey almost certain to claim a Norwich Union League Division Two promotion spot.

They took a big stride towards it by inching past Derbyshire in a one-wicket thriller on Monday night.

Rikki Clarke, named Cricket Writers' Club young player of the year on Friday, overcame a nasty blow on the inside of the left knee to guide his side home with a career-best 98no after Derbyshire had been dismissed for 213.

* Surrey's under-17s missed out on their own County Championship title when they lost to Notts in the final by 11 runs at Headingley last week.